The Boys Did Wel

Man United line-up: De Gea, Smalling, Jones, Evans Y, Evra (c), Nani, Cleverley (Park, 81'), Anderson, Young (Giggs, 81'), Rooney, Welbeck (Hernandez, 81')
Tottenham line-up: Friedel, Walker (Corluka, HT), Dawson (c) Y, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Livermore (Huddlestone, 74'), Van Der Vaart, Bale, Defoe Y, Kranjcar (Pavlyuchenko, 74')

With an average age of just 22.9 years, Manchester United fielded their second youngest side ever. But they all put on a fantastic second-half performance to maintain their home unbeaten record which stretches back to April 2010. After their postponement last week, Tottenham were coming to Old Trafford without kicking a ball in the Premiership and performed well for most of the game.

The first half was extremely tight. Both teams enjoyed spells of possession, without creating any clear cut chances. Spurs tried to test De Gea from long range due to his reputation, but none of the shots troubled the young Spaniard. At the other end, Spurs had Friedel in goal who was exactly twice the age of De Gea but was playing just as well. He arguably worked the harder in the first half but only had a great Cleverley shot which Friedel made a better save. It remained goalless at half-time and it was probably the right result.

Young Kyle Walker was feeling under the weather and had to replaced at half-time by Corluka. Again the second half started as the first, with both teams enjoying spells of possession. But whereas Tottenham seemed to miss Modric as they had no real creativity to break United down, United could still step up a gear. This is exactly what they did do and the twenty-two year old Cleverley found a perfect cross which the twenty-one year old Welbeck headed plum into the bottom corner just after the hour. From there the likes of Van Der Vaart, Bale and Defoe became a little invisible and wasted many passing opportunities. Welbeck then turned provider on seventy four minutes when a great passing move saw Anderson get a back-heeled return from Welbeck and the Brazilian netted home, although his dancing needs improving! Every move De Gea made was closely scrutinised by everyone and for the most part he did all right, his foot-work and distribution were very accurate but the young keeper again slipped up two minutes after Anderson's goal; De Gea came out for a cross but missed it, the ball fell to Defoe and he could only hit he post with De Gea in no man's land. United then finished the game off three minutes from time when thirty-seven year old Giggs picked out twenty-five year old Rooney with another peach of a cross, Rooney headed past Friedel with ease. But there was still time for De Gea to cause a worry as he spilt a Huddlestone shot, but managed to jump on the ball before Defoe got there. United make it two wins from two with a second half masterclass from young and old.